EU and Serbia: Decisive week

EU and Serbia: Decisive week

“Talks with Serbia will continue when Belgrade achieves full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal”, Kristina Nagy told Večernje Novosti.

Reacting to prime minister Koštunica’s announcement he will push for the continuation of EU negotiations during his meeting with Olli Rehn, Javier Solana and Finnish and German foreign ministers on October 16 in Luxembourg, Nagy said the EU had no ambition to govern internal political circumstances in Serbia, as well as that connecting the continuation of talks with such EU’s desire was baseless.

“The negotiations will be continued after full Hague cooperation has been established, nothing more, nothing less”, Kristina Nagy said.

In his interview with Večernje Novosti, European Commission's Enlargement director Michael Leigh reiterated the same position.

One EU source said Carla Del Ponte did not report progress in the technical sense of the term, that is, concerning the Action Plan implementation, but has nonetheless described Koštunica as “more constructive and open than before”.

“However, this will not suffice, since Rehn will formally make the decision on the possible continuation, while the key players are in the Council of  Ministers, where the UK, the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries won’t allow for the talks to resume in conflict with a negative Hague report”, sources said, adding that “the decision on Serbia will be made on October 17, in Luxembourg, at the foreign ministers meeting, based on talks held with Koštunica a day earlier and on Carla Del Ponte’s report”.